*China 907-979 AD Antiquity Five Dynasties Period offering covered pottery vessel with lotus & monks
China ancient pottery jar from the Five-Dynasties period.
A beautiful Chinese "Lotus offering jar" in pottery from the five-dynasties period (907 to 979 AD) in Yunnan, China.. Featuring molded petals with incised and high reliefs patterns of the zodiac figures.
The design is composed of a jug jar in the shape of a bombe baluster, with a semi-flat lid. The jug is decorated in relief with 5 panels with multiple lotus flowers and five dressed monks holding scrolls. The lower part is decorated with animals and mythological figures, possibly the zodiac.
Has a combined measures including the lid of 9.1 by 6.75 inches (23.1 x 17.45 Cm).
The five-dynasties and Ten kingdoms period (907–979), was an era of political upheaval and division in the 10th-century imperial China. Five states quickly succeeded one another in the central plain, and more than a dozen concurrent states were established elsewhere, mainly in south China. It was the last prolonged period of multiple political divisions in Chinese imperial history.
Traditionally, the era is seen as beginning with the fall of the Tang dynasty in 907 AD and having reached its climax with the founding of the dominant Song dynasty in 960 AD. In the following 19 years, the Song gradually subdued all remaining states.
Many states had been de facto independent kingdoms long before 907 as the Tang dynasty's ability to control its officials gradually waned, but by this point, they had now been recognized as such by foreign powers. After the Tang had collapsed, warlords who controlled the central plain crowned themselves as emperors. During the 70-year-long period, there was near constant warfare between the emerging kingdoms and alliances they formed. All had the ultimate goal of controlling the central plain, which would have granted legitimacy over currently held territories and the rest of china as tang’s successor.
The last of the five-dynasties and the ten kingdoms regimes was Northern-Han, who held out until 979 AD when the Song officially conquered it, thereby reclaiming all of the territory of the former Tang dynasty.
Note: These types of jars were originally excavated from Buddhist sites in the region of Yunnan, China. Used to hold sutras, dedications, or offerings, they were usually buried at the bases of temples, pagodas, or other holy sites.
Collateral: An actual letter, dated October 1, 2021 from TK Asian Antiquities Gallery, signed by Michael Teller, accompanied this piece as a certificate of authenticity. Copy will be included.
Provenance: A private collection in New York city collected in the 1964; T.K. Asian Antiquities Gallery, Williamsburg Virginia; A private collection in Palm Beach FL; then purchased by James & Nancy Markell, Virginia 1976; then by descent to Lauren Markland, Fort Lauderdale, FL.; acquired in Palm Beach, FL. in march 7, 2021.
Literature: Offering Vessels of Yunnan, Michael C, Teller IV. T.K. Asian Antiquities Gallery, New York 2004.
It is in nice ancient condition, with evidence of restoration. Has some remains of the original color pigmentations.
INVENTORY REF: D0000RRLL/.1111
